TGA Summer Update

Tour Events
The TGA has gotten off to a rousing start for the 2009 Tour Season. The spring events saw three different players capture wins and three different players lead the tour in points.

Dru Broadway captured the season's opening event, The 2009 President's Classic at Winding Creek with a net-63 to take home $65.00 and 39 points in the 13-player field. Broadway's victory was an 8-stroke runaway over the 2nd place finisher, Skip Mace who took a scorecard playoff with Jackie King to finish with a net-71 and capture the $39.00 and 36 points that accompanied 2nd place. King finished 3rd and won a greenie to take walk away with $42.00 on the day. Dwight Clark captured the only skin of the day to win a new TGA tour record $80.00 skin. The President's Classic marked the tour debuts for TGA rookies Ken Davis, Tim Hulin, and the father/son duo of Eddie and Lance Branham.

King came back strong to capture the Winding Creek Invitational in April with a net-69 to forge a 2-way tie atop the TGA standings with Mace who finished as the runner-up for the second straight event. King's net-69 edged out Mace (net-70) and Ted Prestwood (net-72) to win $85.00 in the 17-player tournament. Mace took home $51.00 for his finish while Prestwood's $34.00 take gave him an even $50.00 for the season. Eleven players won at least $15.00. Tom Riddle of Charlotte and Scott Gantt of Clemmons made their TGA tour debuts in this event, bringing the total number of new players on tour for 2009 to six.

The third event of the Spring was the season's first major, The TGA Open at Holly Ridge Golf Links. Reigning TGA Player of the Year Tommy Dugan posted a net-68 to score a two stroke victory over Jackie King, who used his third consecutive top-3 finish to move into sole possession of the TGA points lead with 172 points. Wayne Hunt won a scorecard playoff (net-71) over Randy Griffin and Chris Morris to place third. Dugan won $140.00 for capturing the season's first major in a field of 18 players. With one skin to his credit, Dugan totaled $151.00 in winnings on the afternoon. King and Hunt each captured one greenie to total $73.00 and $55.00 respectively.

With the first third of the season now in the books, King has staked himself to a 13-point lead over Dugan (172-159) in an attempt to capture his first career Player of the Year Award. Mace, who stumbled to a 12th-place finish in the TGA Open, sits in third with 137 points followed by Prestwood with 115 points and Hunt, who has totaled 110 points in only two events.

Thomasville's Tim Hulin leads the chase for the Rookie of the Year award over Kernersville's Lance Branham (80-72).

Fifteen players have won money on tour thus far led by King who has won $200.00 and Dugan who has $186.00. Mace has won $90.00 and three other players (Broadway, Clark and Prestwood) have won $80.00 apiece.

Newcomer Tom Riddle leads the tour with 5 birdies in two events. Ted Prestwood's 21 pars lead the series through three events. Rookie Scott Gantt shot a 75 at the Winding Creek Invitational in April which stands as the low-gross score for the season thus far. Broadway's net-63 in the season-opening win is the low net score for Spring 2009.


Memberships
Through May 31, 22 players have paid membership dues for the 2009 season. In addition, two other players have participated but have yet to gain full membership. A goal of 25 paid memberships is well within reach and would represent a new single season TGA record.

TGA off the links
The first ever TGA GOLO event was held at Ted Prestwood's house May 15th. 13 players participated and Dru Broadway beat Lance Branham in the final pairing to win $90.00

The first ever TGA Racing Pool was also assembled in May and Wayne Hunt won $65.00 when his randomly selected pick, Rachel Alexander captured the Preakness on May 16th.

The next TGA GOLO event has been planned for this summer prior to the TGA Masters in August. The date and location will be announced at a later date.

TGA hits the water
A couple of members have offered up their homes/pools as possible locations for a summer cookout. TGA staff will be getting with those folks in the near future to discuss the possibility of a cookout for later in the summer.

TGA and the NFL
The TGA group outing for the November 19th Thursday night game vs. the Miami Dolphins is officially a done deal. I will be getting with those people, individually, who have advised me they will be attending. Remember guys, your significant others/kids/etc are welcome to this event. At this point, 23 people have committed to attend. I am still waiting to hear back from a few other people. But, I will be collecting money this week and sending out payment next week for our group tickets.

Congratulations
To Lance Branham who was married to Debbie Gonzalez in a ceremony on May 23rd in Kernersville

Coming Soon
Beginning tomorrow we will begin a new segment on the TGA blog, called The USGA Rule of the Week. This segment will run every Tuesday thoughout the season.

Also look for the upcoming TGA Profile of the Month. Beginning in June we will profile one TGA player each month. This should be an interesing new addition to the revamped TGA web site.

Remember
If any one has any information you would like posted on the TGA blog, please contact me or Dru via e-mail or phone. We are always interested in what is going on with our TGA friends.

See ya soon,

Wayne